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SC allows the terminally ill or comatose people the right to die

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SC allows the terminally ill or comatose people the right to die

The Supreme Court has allowed passive euthanasia in the country.

In a unanimous order on Friday, March 9, a five judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra recognised “living will” and laid down guidelines for its execution.

The SC bench, also comprising Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, said that the guidelines will be in force till legislation on the same is passed by Parliament.

The judges, who wrote four separate judgments expressing their views, were unanimous on allowing passive euthanasia and advance directives.

A ‘living will’ is made by a person, in a healthy, normal state of mind, specifying – for a situation when he/she is no longer able to express informed consent – whether or not he/she be kept alive purely on an artificial life support system in case of terminal illness or when in an irreversible vegetative state.

An advance directive is a document that enables competent persons to exercise their right to direct medical treatments in the event that they lose their decision making capacity. American Medical Association says there are two categories of advance directives: (1) a living will, which indicates the types of treatment that an individual wishes to receive or forgo under specified circumstances, and (2) a durable power of attorney for health care, which designates a proxy to make treatment decisions.

Passive euthanasia entails withdrawing artificial life support causing the death of a person who is in a permanent vegetative state, with no chance of recovery.

The court said advance directives for terminally-ill patients could be issued and executed by the next friend or relatives of the person after which a medical board would consider it, reported news agency PTI.

The court’s ruling came on a petition seeking recognition of a living will so that an individual could exercise the right to refuse medical treatment at a terminally ill stage of life.

While the Centre was in agreement on the question of allowing passive euthanasia, it opposed the concept of living will. Additional solicitor general PS Narasimha, representing the centre, told the court that consent for removal of artificial support may not be an informed one and could be misused in cases of the elderly.

He added that the government had already accepted the apex court’s ruling in the landmark Aruna Shanbaug case on 11 March 2011, which held that a specific category of relatives could seek permission from the court to opt for passive euthanasia on behalf of the person in cases of a terminally ill patient.

The apex court had ruled that such a request would have to be vetted by a medical board on the basis of which the concerned high court would decide whether to permit withdrawal of life support system or not.

On January 15, 2016, the Centre had said the 241st report of the Law Commission stated that passive euthanasia should be allowed with certain safeguards and there was also a proposed law — Medical Treatment of Terminally Ill Patient (Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners) Bill, 2006.

The fundamental right to a “meaningful existence” includes a person’s choice to die without suffering, the apex court held on Friday.

The CJI’s judgment said the heart of the matter is whether law permits the acceleration of death without suffering.

Chief Justice Dipak Misra spoke about how societal pressure and fear of criminal liability by relatives and medical doctors ultimately led to the suffering and the undignified death of the patient.

The court said it was time to dispense with such shared suffering and sense of guilt and face reality. Doctors who attend the terminally-ill are under pressure and dither in letting the patient go, apprehending criminal liability and fear of being drawn into the “vortex” of a possible family struggle for inheritance.

Chief Justice Misra, in a common judgment with Justice AM Khanwilkar, said it was time to “alleviate the agony of an individual” and stand by his right to a dignified passing. A dignified death should follow a meaningful existence, the five-judge Bench agreed in a unanimous voice.

The Chief Justice’s judgment includes specific guidelines to test the validity of a living will, by whom it should be certified, when and how it should come into effect, etc. The guidelines also cover a situation where there is no living will and how to approach a plea for passive euthanasia.

Justice AK Sikri, in his separate opinion, said though religion, morality, philosophy, law and society share equally strong and conflicting opinions about whether right to life includes right to death, they all agree that a person should die with dignity.

Hence, the court, Justice Sikri said, is rightly in favour of the right to die with dignity.

Justice Sikri said an advance directive or living will from a patient to stop medical treatment at a particular stage — “particularly when he is brain dead or clinically dead or not revivable” — quells apprehensions of future regret for relatives and criminal action against doctors.

In a separate opinion, Justice Chandrachud observed that modern medical science should balance its quest to prolong life with the need to provide patients quality of life. One is meaningless without the other, Justice Chandrachud observed.

Justice Chandrachud said, “Life and death are inseparable. Every moment our bodies undergo change… life is not disconnected from death. Dying is a part of the process of living.”

Justice Chandrachud said the issue of death and when to die transcends the boundaries of law, but the court has intervened because it also concerns the liberty and autonomy of the individual.

He read from his judgment that the sanctity of life includes the dignity and autonomy of the individual. He said the search for a meaningful existence, the pursuit of happiness includes the exercise of free will.

“Free will includes the right of a person to refuse medical treatment,” Justice Chandrachud observed.

A person need not give any reasons nor is he answerable to any authority on why he should write an advanced directive.

But the judge held that active euthanasia is unlawful.

For this reason, he said the reasons given by a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court in the Aruna Shanbaug case allowing passive euthanasia are “flawed” as the convoluted procedure to get a go-ahead for passive euthanasia makes the dignity of a dying person dependent on the whims and will of third parties.

“To deprive a person dignity at the end of life is to deprive him of a meaningful existence,” Justice Chandrachud read from his opinion he shared with Justice Ashok Bhushan.

Other countries where euthanasia is permitted

While euthanasia is still illegal in most parts of the United States, the doctors are allowed to prescribe lethal doses of medicine to terminally ill patients in five state — Washington DC, California, Colorado, Oregon and Vermont. Oregon was the first US state to legalise “assisted suicide”.  Australia has a system of ‘advance directive’ to allow citizens to decide how they would like to be treated in future, if they are incompetent to make a decision at that point. Euthanasia, in varying forms, is permitted in Belgium, Canada, and Sweden.

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NDA’s Mangal Milan meeting today to discuss Monsoon Session strategy, PM Modi likely to attend

The NDA Parliamentary Party will hold its ‘Mangal Milan’ meeting on Tuesday to discuss strategy for the remaining Monsoon Session, while the Centre has introduced the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha.

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August 4, 2026

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Parliament

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Parliamentary Party is scheduled to hold its ‘Mangal Milan’ meeting on Tuesday at the Parliament Library Building (PLB) to finalise the ruling alliance’s floor strategy for the remaining 10 days of the Monsoon Session.

According to a note circulated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Parliament, all NDA members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been requested to attend the meeting and reach the venue on time. The programme will begin at 9:30 am at the GMC Balayogi Auditorium.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in the meeting along with Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh, and other NDA Members of Parliament.

‘Mangal Milan’ is NDA’s rebranded weekly strategy session

The ‘Mangal Milan’ meeting is described as the rebranded version of the NDA’s weekly parliamentary party strategy session. It is aimed at promoting constructive discussions and ensuring better coordination among alliance partners during the ongoing Parliament session.

The meeting comes as Parliament continues discussions on key legislative business and government proposals during the Monsoon Session.

Centre introduces Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026

Meanwhile, the Centre on Monday introduced the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha.

Union Minister Rao Indrajit Singh introduced the Bill, which seeks to repeal and replace the Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959, while retaining the institute’s status as an Institution of National Importance.

The proposed legislation aims to convert the existing society into an autonomous statutory body corporate and provide a modern statutory framework for the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI).

It also seeks to broaden the scope of Statistical Sciences by including fields such as theoretical and applied statistics, mathematics, economics, data science, computer science, other quantitative sciences, quantitative social sciences, and modern technologies including cryptology and related disciplines.

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Himanta Sarma visits Assam flood-hit areas, compensation process to begin after August 9

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited flood-hit areas in Nazira, Mahmora and Sonari and announced that damage assessment for compensation will begin from August 9.

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August 4, 2026

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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited flood-affected areas in the Nazira, Mahmora and Sonari Assembly constituencies to review the damage caused by the recent floods in Upper Assam. During the visit, he announced that government officials would begin a door-to-door assessment of permanently damaged properties from August 9, after which compensation would be provided to affected families.

This marked the Chief Minister’s second visit to the flood-hit districts of Charaideo and Sivasagar following the latest spell of flooding.

CM interacts with affected residents, reviews relief work

During the tour, Mr Sarma inspected flood-affected locations at Santak, Nepalikhuti and Sundarpukhuri in the Nazira constituency, Chomoni village in Mahmora, and Ward No. 8 of Sonari town. He interacted with residents, reviewed relief measures and assessed the impact of the floods on local communities.

To reach the flood-ravaged Nepalikhuti area of Bihubar under the Nazira constituency, the Chief Minister travelled by tractor. He later visited Shulal Kalita village in Sundarpukhuri, where he discussed the challenges faced by residents and reviewed ongoing relief operations.

Compensation survey to begin from August 9

Addressing flood-affected residents, Mr Sarma said officials would start visiting households from August 9 to assess permanent damage caused by the floods. He said the compensation process would begin after the assessment is completed.

The Chief Minister also announced that health camps would be organised in the affected areas and that the government would extend assistance to help farmers resume agricultural activities. Responding to local demands, he assured residents that steps would be taken to strengthen the Sundarpukhuri embankment.

CM meets bereaved families, promises long-term flood solution

During the visit, Mr Sarma met the family of Nirupama Duwara and her niece Nisha Duwara of Rajapul Duwara village in Nazira, who lost their lives after being swept away during the sudden floods on July 19. He expressed condolences and assured the family of the government’s support.

He also said the state government would work towards finding a permanent solution to recurring floods so that people do not have to face similar devastation in the future.

Financial assistance provided to families of flood victims

In Mahmora constituency, the Chief Minister travelled by boat to Chomoni village to meet stranded residents. At the Sri Sri Hari Namghar, he handed over one-time financial assistance of Rs. 4 lakh each to the next of kin of 14 people who lost their lives in floods affecting the constituency since July 19. The total assistance distributed amounted to Rs. 56 lakh.

He also visited the Sri Sri Gobinda Namghar at Moran Gaon to review the condition of flood-affected residents.

Later, at Jaya Primary School in Ward No. 8 of Sonari town, Mr Sarma distributed textbooks and school uniforms to students affected by the floods. He also provided Rs. 5 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the families of five people who died in the recent floods in the area.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta, Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika, Industries and Commerce Minister Bimal Bora, along with local MLAs Taranga Gogoi, Mayur Borahgohain, Suruj Dihingia and Dharmeswar Konwar, accompanied the Chief Minister during the visit.

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IMD issues heavy rain alert across several states, red warning for Punjab’s Patiala

The IMD has issued red and orange weather alerts across several states, warning of thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, lightning and gusty winds in multiple districts.

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August 4, 2026

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued district-wise weather warnings for several states on Tuesday, cautioning residents about thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rainfall and gusty winds expected over the next two to three hours.

A red warning, indicating severe weather conditions requiring immediate action, has been issued for Patiala district in Punjab.

Orange warning for multiple states

The IMD has also issued orange warnings for several districts where thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, winds of 40-60 kmph and moderate to heavy rainfall of 5-15 mm per hour or more are very likely.

In Punjab, the orange warning covers Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Sangrur and SAS Nagar.

In Uttar Pradesh, the alert has been issued for Amethi, Ayodhya, Barabanki, Fatehpur, Hardoi, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Lucknow, Pratapgarh, Raebareli and Unnao.

The warning also extends to Kasaragod in Kerala; Dakshin Kannada, Shivamogga and Udupi in Karnataka; Bhind, Datia, Gwalior, Morena, Sheopur Kalan and Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh; Jiribam, Kamjong, Noney, Senapati and Tamenglong in Manipur; Uttar Dinajpur in West Bengal; Longleng, Mokokchung, Mon and Wokha in Nagaland; Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli and Sivasagar in Assam; Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Kaithal and Kurukshetra in Haryana; and Bageshwar, Dehradun, Pithoragarh, Tehri Garhwal and Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand.

IMD advises residents to stay alert

The weather department has urged people living in the affected districts to remain vigilant and follow safety precautions as severe weather conditions may develop over the next few hours.

Separately, the IMD has forecast heavy rainfall in parts of Arunachal Pradesh on August 4 and 5, with Papum Pare likely to witness very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning on Tuesday. East Kameng is also expected to receive heavy rainfall, while several other districts remain under yellow and orange alerts.

In Uttar Pradesh, where the state has recorded below-normal monsoon rainfall so far this season, the IMD has predicted intense rainfall over the next four to five days, which could provide relief from humid conditions.

Meanwhile, heavy monsoon rains continued to affect Himachal Pradesh, where 109 roads remained blocked, six electricity distribution transformers were out of service and 30 water supply schemes were impacted, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.

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